The 25-year-old was straight out of the blocks, breaking Blake twice in the American's first three service games.

I've learned a lot about grass-court tennis this week

James Blake

Blake overcame his edgy opening to claw back one of the breaks but could not prevent Hewitt from taking the first set.

The players matched each other at the beginning of the second set although Blake could not find a way past Hewitt's solid retrieving and began hitting more errors in his efforts to hit the lines.

Hewitt cranked up the pressure to break in the seventh game, which was enough to see the Australian claim the title.

"It's the first title I've won since getting married last year and also since having (daughter) Mia so it means a lot to all of us," said Hewitt, who joins John McEnroe and Boris Becker as the only men to win four Stella Artois titles.

Blake had grown increasingly frustrated with himself during the match but said afterwards that he was satisfied with the way he was playing.

"I've learned a lot about grass-court tennis this week and more today. I hope I can take it into Wimbledon," he said.